APASA (Asociacion Protectora de Animales de San Antonio)
The dog pound was founded in 1999 and has currently place for 220 dogs,
although most of the time there are more dogs waiting for a new home. In 2007 a
total of 612 dog arrived in the pound, 402 were adopted by families in Spain,
Switzerland, Germany and Holland.
The dog pound can continue only through donations, and events organised by volunteers. The town hall of Javea does participate with a yearly amount but that is not enough for the dayly care of our animals. Every year we organise events such as Open Days, Bus Trips, Dancings and Fashion Shows. We also have a second hand shop in the old town of Javea (Calle Finestrat 19, behind Movistar). All beneficiaries is used for the care of our dogs. Thanks to the donations and all these events we will be celebrating our 10th year anniversary in 2009.
How it all started......read here the story of Chico:
In
Spain on the Costa Blanca, to be more precise in Javea there is a dog pound. It
is called Perrera here and belongs to the town of Javea. It was probably the
least important thing to be discussed during the town hall meetings because
nobody really cared for the dogs. OK, there was Pepe – he came once a day to
clean the kennels and left again. I watched him often. I was lucky because I was
not in a kennel and I could look at my canine friends from outside and tell them
stories about the things which went on around the pound and in the near vicinity.
Unfortunately I could not tell them many happy stories as I rarely saw happy
things. From the ones which were locked up in the kennels none stayed very long.
Because when the four kennels of 12m2 were full the ones who were there longest
had to go. I never found out where they were taken to. But I never saw anyone of
them again.
And
then more and more people started to come. Not only Pepe, because him I knew
already. No, men and women and children. And from those days our life started to
be better too. Even I got regular food and fresh water. And then suddenly there
were people who came and took out the dogs from the kennels on leads and took
them for a walk. Not only once, but every day – even on Sundays. I felt good.
I did not have to go hunting anymore, but knew, that I would get my ration of
food every day. But still I did not trust those humans. I have never really had
a good reason to trust them. The months passed and I must admit, that towards
some people I had developed a sort of trust, specially to those who came more
often and looked after me. They called to me – CHICO, that must have been my
name, or at least now I had one. And the more I watched these people the more
trust I had. My kind did not disappear anymore – just like that, somewhere…but
they were taken away by people who evidently were happy to have a dog. Well and
by this time I trusted them. Meanwhile we were around 50 dogs …….in only a
few months. We were all fed and a vet came – even I was vaccinated and
received a vaccination book. There my name was written. Finally I was somebody.
No nameless Podenco, wandering around, sickly and thin. I put on some weight and
my coat was shiny. All fourlegged ladies at the pound thought I was really
handsome.
New
kennels were built and the dogs which were tied to trees with chains could move
into their new housing. Then Quarantine kennels were put up at the far end of
the pound. All newcomers had to go in there first.
By
this time everybody knew me. Well I was there the longest. It was really a good
feeling. But still I did not want to be put in a kennel.
I enjoyed being stroked and liked to listen to the friendly sounding
words of the people. If I had only known that these people were kind I would
have trusted them much sooner.
When
some of my Podenco friends were loaded in cars to be taken up to the Podenco
Foundation near Benissa they also took me there. They thought I would be happier
there. That was wrong. Because in the same night I escaped from Benissa and ran
the 35 km all the way back to Javea.
What a surprise the next morning. Everybody said: Chico will never have to go
away again – this here is his home. I was happy.
Then
came the rainy season and the wind blew around my face and ears. I could only
seek shelter behind the Quarantine kennel. I cowered behind the bars and hoped
the storm would soon be over. The wind blew so strong that it lifted the 12m
long kennels up in the air, turned them over and pushed them down in the ground.
I did not have time to run away and put myself in safety…of all days now…now
that I had trust and a name……I was crushed by the falling kennels.
More information can be found on our website: http://www.apasa-javea.org